US seeks to disrupt TurkStream operations: Russian FM Lavrov
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends the plenary session of the 31st Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial summit in Ta'Qali, Malta, on Dec. 5, 2024. - (AFP Photo)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the United States of planning to render the TurkStream pipeline inoperative by supporting attacks on energy infrastructure.
Lavrov made the comments during a press conference on Tuesday, reviewing the outcomes of Russian diplomacy in 2024.
“The U.S. unabashedly approves terrorist activities aimed at destroying the foundation of EU energy security and stirs up its Ukrainian clients to target the TurkStream, following the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines,” Lavrov stated.
He criticized Washington’s approach to competition in the energy sector as unfair and aggressive.
Energy security concerns highlighted
Lavrov and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed measures to prevent risks to energy security during a phone call, according to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The two ministers also exchanged views on international and regional issues, including the situation in Ukraine.
In furtherance of their regular, trust-based dialogue, the ministers exchanged views on international and regional issues, including in the context of the Ukraine situation. The focus was on the need to disallow actions aimed at creating energy security risks.
Sergey Lavrov and Hakan Fidan also discussed further steps in support of Syrian settlement via organising an inclusive national dialogue with the participation of all of Syria’s political, ethnic and religious forces as well as outside players, capable of facilitating the search for relevant agreements.
Russian Foreign Ministry
The talks emphasized the importance of preventing actions that could threaten energy infrastructure. Both ministers expressed concern about the stability of critical pipelines like TurkStream, which delivers natural gas to Türkiye and parts of Europe.
Expert analysis: US, EU suspected
Energy expert Necdet Pamir told Russian media outlet TASS, that preliminary suspicions regarding potential attacks on TurkStream point to the US and EU leaders.
Pamir argued that any disruption to the pipeline would primarily harm Russia, Türkiye, and European countries dependent on its gas supplies.
“This attack seems unlikely to have disrupted gas supplies, but if it had, countries like Hungary, Türkiye, and others in the region would suffer the most,” Pamir said.
